LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16780, 8 July 1922, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

PS,AY AT WIMBLEDON. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright j Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. i ' n-Kiisr. Julv s. I J. O. Anderson (Australia) is a strong fa- ] vourito for the singles championship. Most of the critic? forecast that his quieter ! method is likely to give him a comfortable < victory over Patterson's more spectacular, slashing style. Gilbert heat Mavrokordato, 6-4. 3-6, 6-3. 3-6, 6-2. Ho will meet, Lycett in the semifinal rounds. SINGLES SEMI-FINALS. Bv Teles raph—Pr?w Association— Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (Received July 8, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 7. Lycett (England) beat Gilbert (England) 8-G, :)-7, 6-3. after a long drawn-out struggle unmarked by brilliance on eit-ner side. Queen Alexandra witnessed the play. Before the gates opened there was a queue a mile long. «, Owing to rain, the match between Patterson and Anderson was postponed till SaturMEN’S DOUBLES. LONDON. July 6. Anderson and Lycett defeated Misseker and II ill yard, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. LADS ES’ SINGLES, Ly Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrsck.ii Australian and N.Z. Coble Association (Received July 8. 2.55 p.m.) LONDON, July 7. Mr,; Mallory beat Mrs Beamish. 6-2, 6-2. .Millie Lenglen beat Mrs Peacock 6-0,. 6-1. Despite two and a half hours’ delay owing to heavy rain in the afternoon the crowd shouted for the Palterson-Andot'son match, but if was officially announced that it was too late for such an important five-set match. Instead of this match the semi-final be ween Mrs Beamish ami Mrs Mallory was played, Mrs Mallory winNOTES ON THE PLAY. The meeting of Anderson and Patterson in the setm-nnul oi the singles ciiatnpiouship \nus st age* I for k'ridaj at \\ lmbleuon, and v.nuoubtediy it would attract an enormous crowd to tde centre court. The critics have ‘at last picked Anderson to v.iu comfortably, and this may be due to Patterson's loss of a set (lie may even have lost two) against Campbell. At this distance it would be absurd to challenge the view of critics who are on the ground, but it may be expected that Patterson will make a great nght of it, and it was proved m the Id 19 cinunpionships that the stimulus of players on the centre court before a great crowd was just what was needed to key him up to his best game. One cannot expect a heavy man like Patterson, however, to reproduce his best form heavy courts such as lie played on against'Campbell, for instance. Then again, yesterday there was cabled the almost unbelievable account of a match in which Lycett played iu his socks oi\ ing to the soaked courts and pelting rain. He had lost the first set agaiust Davson, and probably he then took his shoes off and waded in. It. all bears out Tilden s remark' that a tennis player must bo prepared to swim to victory. These considerations may weigh with the critics, but it is unsafe to prophesy the comfortable victory they mention.

The two champions met in their third trial of strength this year in an exhibition match played in Sydney on April In the two previous engagements Anderson won by the narrowest margins, and the third match provided another close finish to an exciting five-set encounter. A single game separated the respective scores in a 51 games contest. The turf at Double Bay. where 'he match was staged, was exceedingly fast. Patterson played the game of his life, and fought like a demon. Anderson,' though a bit off colour, played well. In the fifth set players and spectators alike were at fever heat. With the score at 5-4 against him. Patterson played as he had never played before. He squared the game to *' five-all.” and then won liis service and led 6-5. In the twelfth game When leading “ 35—10ve,” Anderson was foot-faulted for the first, time in the match. Patterson won the game, the set and the match in most brilliant stvle * ne scores were:—Patterson beat Anderson. 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. 3-C> 7-5. The later messages have mentioned quite a number of players who came unexpectedly under notic. Gilbert has beaten Mavrogordato in a see-sawing five set match, and he can have no chance in the semi-fmal against Lycett. It means, therefore, that Lycett will play off for the title against Patterson or Anderson. He is a bit Incky to get info the final, as he was in much the easier half of the draw, and it is almost certain thaS he could not have got past Kiugscote. Both semi-final results should come through to-day. as it was evidently intended to play the finals on the Saturday, and this probably applies to the ladies' singles as well.

Mrs Mallory. Mrs Peacock and Mrs Beamish are. all in the semi-finals with MdUe Lenglen, but Mrs Mallory will have to meet either Mrs Peacock or Mrs Beamish. They are both solid players, and both have defeated Mrs Mallory t his| year. Mrs Beamish had some memorable successes as Miss Ramsey; but her best plav' lias been since her marriage, and she did best last year when she and Mrs Peacock got to the final of the doubles championship, where they were beaten by Mdlle Lenglen and Miss Ryan, as one might well expect. This year, after beating Mrs Maliory. Mrs Beamish got to the final of the singles when her partner. Mrs Peacock, beat her, 6-1. 1-6, 6-2. They played together at Chiswick Park in the doubles also, and got to the final, where Mrs Lambert Chambers showed that though she his had to give up singles play, she can still hit a few over, for she and Miss Ryan beat Mrs Beamish and Mrs Peacock. 6-2, 6-1.